1st place: Winner of the 2017 Gordon Harris Online Watercolour Competition 'Skirting' by Jacky Pearson

1st place: Winner of the 2017 Gordon Harris Online Watercolour Competition 'Skirting' by Jacky Pearson

The judges comments: Jacky achieves impact, light and dark areas, especially the light streaming in on the woolshed workers. She works in an original manner. Her theme is representative of New Zealand
life. The washes looked perfect.

Jacky writes: What a wonderful surprise to receive this award. Thank you Gordon Harris for your continuing support. This painting was part of a series of seven paintings on shearing for my recent Solo at Alfred Memelinks Art Space Gallery in Petone. The idea came when I was teaching at Wallingford Station last year. A shearing gang turned up and allowed us to sketch and photograph them through the whole process. Wallingford House and station in South Hawkes Bay, owned by the Ormond family for 150 years and recently sold to a local vet, is paradise for the painter. We were planning to paint the historic wool shed and it was a treat to see it in action. The shearing gang was marvellous to watch and happy about being watched. The girl in the red t-shirt stood out due to a shaft of light from a skylight throwing her into chiaroscuro, adding to the drama. The painting is about her hair capturing the light but also about hard work.

The Gordon Harris Online Watercolour Competition 2017